Accepting Defeat

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Obviously, losing games is an enormous part of Go's path. Those who seek improvement will lose many, many games -- and such loss can be frustrating and discouraging. I think it appropriate to share some ideas and tactics for approaching this common occurrence.

I'm not a big fan of feel-good pseudotherapy, so I don't want this to be a "Why do bad games happen to good players?" kind of page. However, as a teacher I consider assisting enlightenment to be a prime directive; hence, this effort.

It should go without saying that what follows is a collection of my thoughts; as someone who loses frequently (and has overcome an explosive post-loss rage), I believe it may be useful. I claim no authority or training other than experience.

Finally, some words from the ages.

"Great lords, wise men ne'er sit and wail their loss But cheerly seek how to redress their harms."

  -- William Shakespeare, King Henry the Sixth, Part III

"Know contentment
And you will suffer no disgrace;
Know when to stop
And you will meet with no danger.
You can then endure."

  -- Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching (Book Two: XLIV)

Zarlan: Here's some more:

"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."

  -- Winston Churchill

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This is a copy of the living page "Accepting Defeat" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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